I'm probably stirring the kettle here, but I couldn't resist posting this. The link is to Part 1; parts 2 & 3 are easily found as well. Each is 6-8 minutes long. The video is from Ovation's 40th anniversary a few years back. My favorite part is the very end of video 3 where it becomes obvious that the USA Ovations require real skill to build.

You're preaching to the converted here, Patch! :) I don't currently own an Ovation, although I have been looking for a good used one from GC's used section. I think I may have to buy new as there were issues with the ones I tried. Right now I can't hear the link you provided as I'm in a noisy coffee bar. I look forward to watching it when I get home.

Folkstrum

11-06-2009, 11:41 AM

What are the differences between Ovation and Adamas guitar models? Is one less expensive, or differently made? Thanks.

patchmcg

11-06-2009, 12:04 PM

What are the differences between Ovation and Adamas guitar models? Is one less expensive, or differently made? Thanks.

The Adamas models have carbon fiber tops and are considered Ovation's higher end models, especially those with textured tops and a device called a suspension ring joining the top to the bowl. These guitars are tone monsters and can nearly punch holes in walls.

Other Ovations (like mine) are wood topped, and the USA made ones are extremely good guitars, especially for the money. I know several folks at the Ovation factory now, having had several guitars shipped to them for repairs and refurbs. (I have 4 there now in fact.) They are top flight folks and give some fo the best customer service you'll ever find.

ewalling

11-06-2009, 12:06 PM

What are the differences between Ovation and Adamas guitar models? Is one less expensive, or differently made? Thanks.

I think the main difference between an Ovation and an Adamas is that while the former has a wood top and synthetic bowl, the latter is all synthetic, with a top made of carbon fiber. The Adamases I've seen do seem to be more expensive - as much as an extra 25-30% more in many cases.

Okay, I see your questions have already been answered!

patchmcg

11-06-2009, 12:09 PM

You're preaching to the converted here, Patch! :) I don't currently own an Ovation, although I have been looking for a good used one from GC's used section. I think I may have to buy new as there were issues with the ones I tried. Right now I can't hear the link you provided as I'm in a noisy coffee bar. I look forward to watching it when I get home.

What kind of O are you looking for? I have a couple of VERY nice ones for sale on the Ovation Fan Club. One's a nylon string and the other is a vintage (for Ovation anyway) 12-string. Here's a link...

Some of my best instruments for sale
(http://www.ovationfanclub.com/cgi-bin/ubb/non-cgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=006289;p=1#0000 14)

I also have a nice 6-string Custom Legend for sale, but it's on hold at the request of a friend.

Acoustic Rick

11-06-2009, 12:09 PM

As hard as I might try I have yet to find an Ovation that sounded good enough to make me pull the trigger. I take that back. I forgot that I did buy an Ovation 12 string a few months ago that sounded pretty good. I ended up sending it to Nashville to my brother as a gift and he's used it in several recordings already. Said he loves the tone plugged in.

ewalling

11-06-2009, 12:19 PM

What kind of O are you looking for? I have a couple of VERY nice ones for sale on the Ovation Fan Club. One's a nylon string and the other is a vintage (for Ovation anyway) 12-string. I also have a nice 6-string Custom Legend for sale, but it's on hold at the request of a friend.

I've been hovering around the higher end. I bought 1680 Adamas from one budget online store but it had a skewed neck angle and back it went. I've also tried out a Custom Elite and a discontinued shallow bowl Custom Legend. I'm not in the market for a nylon or 12 string. The Custom Legend you mentioned might be of interest; however, I've just laid out some serious bucks on a L'Arrivee so I might give my wallet a break for the moment!

RonS

11-06-2009, 01:04 PM

I own Martin and Ovations guitars

I like them both :)

jaeger29

11-06-2009, 01:53 PM

I love my Ovation for its portability and durability. It also plays very nicely. I think that's what drove me to Taylors, as those were the only guitars that had better playability for me. Martins never felt as 'light' under my fingers.

(Plus, during a particularly grunge/experimental band phase, it made for some amazing sounds plugged in, with amp, (and distortion, then through a wah pedal).

edward993

11-06-2009, 02:00 PM

Owned a circa 70s Legend 1617 for decades ...just a fabulous guitar! She sounded big and full, and played better than many acoustics 2x its price (especially given the resale on ovations). I sold it (regrettably) to fund a Taylor purchase. I don't regret the "upgrade" (don't flame me ...I love my Taylor cedar!), but do regret not having my old Legend. Just a great workhorse and superb live guitar that had never let me donw for 20+ years.

Edward

RoseAdi

11-06-2009, 02:05 PM

I've owned two Ovations over the years: a Custom Balladeer with sitka top, deep bowl, and an Adamas with the carbon/spruce/carbon sandwich top.

The Adamas IMO is far superior unplugged. Mine rang like a piano, was easy to play, and rock solid - a real professional grade instrument. Unfortunatley it had a 1 11/16 neck so I had to sell it. I sure miss its tone! BTW, both excelled when plugged in.

Both were great instruments and I never regretted owning them. Ovations get alot of slams, and I think, at least on their upper end models, the criticism is unwarranted. I would own another Adamas.

Folkstrum

11-06-2009, 02:11 PM

Thanks for the explanation guys. For a change of pace, I rather like the sound of Ovations/Adamas. Never owned one because I couldn't justify the expense. I'm kind of a minimalist when it comes to multiple guitars.

I thought I DID see some Adamas model with sitka top, but I was just kind of cruising around their website.

patchmcg

11-06-2009, 03:05 PM

I thought I DID see some Adamas model with sitka top, but I was just kind of cruising around their website.

In the early eighties, they built the first of the Elite line, model number 1537. They couldn't do it for long because the production cost too much to make it feasible, but for those guitars they actually tried to make what has come to be known as a wood-topped Adamas. There was more involved than swapping tops. Quite a few labor-intensive techniques and hyper-attention to quality materials yielded what was initially conceived of as the "Super Legend" (if memory serves). To avoid confusion I guess, they changed the name to Elite. The guitars came with sitka tops in natural, burst, and black finishes and looked exactly like a traditional Adamas only in wood. Trust me when I say that the 1537 does not sound like other Elites. I owned one for quite a while and the thing was an absolute BEAST! Loud, full, and rich. Easily one of Ovation's best efforts. They're getting harder to find now, but if you can get one in good shape, go ahead and treat yourself. They're somethin' else. If I'm lucky, Mauvais Beal will chime in and correct any misinformation I'm throwing around.

Geez, now I'm missing mine again, but it's on its way to France. Here's how it looked when I picked it up at the factory after a refurb visit. It's one of the very best guitars I've ever touched.

I've only watched the first half of the first of the three video clips so far, but boy they did a good job with this. This has gotten me wondering why I have never really taken Ovations seriously in the past.

I'm not about to return my Goodall and buy an Ovation, but I might pick up an Ovation and try it sometime if I see one in a shop. I don't think The Podium sells Ovations though - or if they do, I have never noticed them - and I don't get out much otherwise.....and I've also promised myself to not try out any guitars in shops for a long time to come and just focus on working to bring out the full potential of the great instruments I have!

Mauvais Beal

11-07-2009, 10:41 AM

No need to get rid of the Goodall, just have another guitar. Different tools for different jobs.

mark-00255

11-07-2009, 11:10 AM

What a great series of videos! The hybrid picking by Glenn Campbell in the first part was fantastic - and I think I'm in love with Kaki King!

Cool guitars - I'll admit to being an Ovation skeptic, but now realize I probably never gave them a chance.

hawk

11-07-2009, 11:22 AM

Patch is a stand up guy and has some nice guitars. The 1537 is the one i would love to have. Mauvais Beal is very unbiased considering hes has a bit of a inside track on Ovations.

river_rat

11-07-2009, 01:33 PM

What a great series of videos! The hybrid picking by Glenn Campbell in the first part was fantastic - and I think I'm in love with Kaki King!Check this out, if you haven't already ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRttF8yL77A&feature=user

Andromeda

11-07-2009, 02:04 PM

Check this out, if you haven't already ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRttF8yL77A&feature=user

Not my cup of tea, it sounds as if she is really a drummer but hasn't accepted it yet. I am not a fan of percussive guitar playing.

I do love Ovation guitars though.

river_rat

11-07-2009, 02:09 PM

Not my cup of tea, it sounds as if she is really a drummer but hasn't accepted it yet. I am not a fan of percussive guitar playing.

I do love Ovation guitars though.I couldn't listen to it a lot, either, but I love something once in a while that's really different; Kaki King is genuinely out of the box!

DavidE

11-08-2009, 12:44 PM

I remember the first time I played an Adamas, probably back in the 80's. I thought it was too perfect compared to my Martin. Every note had the same volume, sustain etc... Really, what an amazing thing!. I bought my first Ovation in the mid 80s, then got rid of it. I picked up a custom legend in the 90's and it was just great plugged in. Now I have a pair of modern Ovations that are just great guitars without the amplification problems I seem to have with all my others (Taylor, Martin, Breedlove). The high b and e strings are very balanced volume wise. I can get as much low end as I want (and more).

I've been to the factory a couple of times and there is a lot of hand work that goes into making a USA Ovation. Really. There are more CNC machines at Taylor!

Indeed! And the other live version of Pink Noise with her dabbling pink paint on her fingers to play that blue guitar one last time before auctioning it! Now if only I were 20 years younger, unattached, had more talent, had the chance to meet her .... ahh well ....

Tony Burns

11-08-2009, 03:00 PM

Ive owned two Ovations in my lifetime - both ovation legends -nice guitars, but they never seemed to get better with age like a wood guitar does . I use to play out alot when i was in my twenties and at the time Ovations had the best sound threw an amp with their piezo system , but as an acoustic un-amped they lacked . I also could never get use to the bowl back on them- felt like i was playing an old tater buy mandolin . In fact i traded the last one in i had on my '06 Martin OM28v -one of the smartedt things ive ever done ( other than marry my wife that is )

SMan

11-08-2009, 03:27 PM

Ovations seem to be the guitars many love to hate. I've heard all the salad bowl and tupperware comments. I have to agree some of the cheaper models sound thin as do the low end models of many lines. I played my first Ovation in 1970. A large bowl Balladeer. I loved it. The friend I played with back then still has it. I have owned three over the years and all had great acoustic sound. (I currently have a Standard Balladeer and a Custom Balladeer.) Plugged in they are outstanding. Ovations are great guitars IMHO and thats why they hang next to my Taylor's and Guilds.

Just Sayin..............

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/smansbucket/3amigos.jpg

I wish I hadn't sold this one....

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/smansbucket/Deacon002.jpg

SpruceTop

11-08-2009, 03:52 PM

I've had about 15 top-end Ovations, including an Adamas, over the years but don't have any right now but will add one to my stable real soon! I love their tone!

Regards,

SpruceTop

Jeff M

11-08-2009, 04:09 PM

I owned an Al DiMeolla sig model Ovation several years back.
Thought it was a nice guitar.
Got rid of it becuase I finally got fed up with the bowl back slipping off my lap. :lol:

river_rat

11-08-2009, 04:52 PM

I had an Ovation Legend for 30 years, because I just didn't play anything I liked enough better to pay difference for it. Great guitar, but I was beginning to tire of the round back (deep bowl) when I played my first T5 Koa; I sold my Ovation and bought the T5, but there are times I'd just like to curl up on the couch with the old round-back, even now.

ewalling

11-08-2009, 05:46 PM

My current interest in Ovations is much more for their plugged in qualities than their acoustic, as I already have few very nice acoustics. I've pondered the T5 and a Taylor with expression system, but for me, it seems that an Ovation will probably deliver one of the best plugged in acoustic sounds, while still feeling and playing like an acoustic in my hands. For that reason, the mid-depth bowl models are the ones I'm looking at.

The other reason I'm looking at Ovations is that they look great!

patchmcg

11-08-2009, 08:18 PM

The other reason I'm looking at Ovations is that they look great!

Not to toot my own horn, but I just posted a couple of rare and gorgeous Ovations in the classifieds section. They look great, they sound great, and they are both VERY tough to find. I put a couple of pics earlier in this thread, but here are the links to the ads.